Women's Soccer

Soccer gets fall camp underway with Returnees vs. Newcomers scrimmage

Aug 05, 2009

12 returnees, 12 newcomers
make for balanced roster

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Tech soccer team opened up its
fall camp Wednesday, getting things started with a scrimmige
between the 12 returnees and the 12 newcomers on the 2009 Golden
Eagle roster.

With a large freshman class, and a 24-player roster overall,
second-year head coach Becky Fletcher and first-year assistant
Ronda Brooks will work on developing team chemistry with many
two-a-day practice sessions scheduled during the fall camp.

"We want the freshmen to understand that they need the
upperclassmen, and we want the upperclassmen to know that they are
going to need the freshmen," Fletcher said. "They will all make
each other better, and that's what we're looking forward to seeing
during our fall practices. We want to break everything down, and
build it all back up. Our goal is to get better with every practice
session."

Having a large roster is one asset Fletcher is happy to have in
2009.

"For all theses upperclassmen, this is the first time they've ever
come to fall camp and been able to have a full scrimmage," Fletcher
said. "In the past, there just weren't enough players."

The Golden Eagles have just over two weeks before opening up
regular season play on August 21 when they host in-state rival
Middle Tennessee.

"Right now we're preparing for that first match," Fletcher said.
"August 21 is the date we have circled on our calendar. We need to
get a lot of work done before that date."

The 60-minute scrimmage gave Fletcher and Brooks their first look
at the team since the spring, and the coaching staff said they were
impressed with the players work rate and attitudes.

"There was a little bit of a different feel today than in the
past," Fletcher said. "There was a lot of positive energy. The
girls really wanted to be here, and there was a competitive
spirit."

Last year, Fletcher led the Golden Eagles to their first Ohio
Valley Conference tounament in five seasons, and aims even higher
this season.

"Our goal is to get better each year. It started with making the
OVC tournament last season, and we want to keep improving from
there. Finishing with the same results year after year is not going
to be good enough."